Concerns have been raised after it emerged Cambridgeshire Constabulary fails to record an estimated 7,000 reported crimes each year - including some sexual offences against children.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has revealed that, while improvements have been made, the force “requires improvement”, noting the constabulary is currently under-recording sexual offences (excluding rape) and violence crimes.

According to the 2017 Crime Data Integrity inspection report: “Cambridgeshire Constabulary has made concerted efforts to improve crime-recording accuracy since HMIC’s 2014 Crime Data Integrity inspection report. The majority of officers and staff have made progress in placing the victim at the forefront of their crime-recording decisions.

“Work remains to be done, however. Despite advances, based on the findings of our examination of crime reports for the period 1 March 2016 to 31 August 2016, we estimate that the force fails to record over 7,000 reported crimes each year”

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Acting Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic said: "As HMIC has recognised, we have made a concerted effort to improve the way we record crime accurately since their Crime Data Integrity inspection in 2014, and we continue to put the victims at the heart of our crime recording decisions.

"We have made significant progress against all of the recommendations made in the 2014 report, including introducing new crime-recording processes and establishing the Victim and Witness Hub, which provides support services to all victims of crime - but particularly those who are most vulnerable in our community.

Dan Vajzovic

"That said, we recognise there is still more work to do, and we have already put in place systems to ensure crime is reported at the first point of contact, either through an officer at the scene, the force control room or the police service centre (101 calls).

"We continue to look at the most appropriate timing and method of contact we have with victims, depending on both the type of crime they have suffered and their vulnerability, our use of language line to engage with victims for whom English is not their first language, and our collection of diversity data from victims of crime.”

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The report also says the constabulary had failed to record reports of sexual offences against children and adults. Nearly nine per cent of reported sex offences were not recorded.

According to the report: “Those failings are significant given the very serious nature of sexual offences and the harm that they cause to their victims. We found that the constabulary had failed to record reports of sexual offences against both adults and children. These include offences of inciting children to engage in sexual activity.”

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An NSPCC spokesperson for the East of England said: “It is concerning that some child sex offences are going unrecorded by Cambridgeshire Police, which could mean vulnerable young victims are being denied the vital support they are entitled to.

“However, overall improvement in recording crimes and supporting vulnerable victims is a positive step that should be built upon.

“Cambridgeshire Police must now act to implement the recommendations of the HMIC’s report without delay and ensure victims are at the heart of their determined work to keep us safe.”

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ACC Vajzovic said: "We record in excess of 58,060 crimes every year in Cambridgeshire and HMIC has said today that more than 88 per cent of those are recorded appropriately and properly. While it is of concern that some crimes are being recorded differently and this needs to be addressed, my focus remains firmly on protecting and safeguarding our communities.

"HMIC has recognised Cambridgeshire Constabulary as good for our accuracy in recording crime - which reassures me that we are delivering a good service to our most vulnerable victims. They have also recognised us as outstanding for our culture and leadership in crime recording - highlighting our strong governance and the standards and expectations we set for our staff and officers to get it right.

"While there were no specific recommendations made by HMIC, we continue to strive to provide the best service for the people of Cambridgeshire, we take heed of their areas of improvement and are reassured that they can see we are making good progress in the right direction."